Mind Your Health: Concert in West Chester to benefit Sandy victims

Since Hurricane Sandy hit the East Coast in October, we’ve all become familiar with the vivid images of shorelines and towns destroyed by the super storm. But long after the physical destruction of a natural disaster has been cleared, the emotional scars remain. To help raise awareness of this important issue, Chester County’s mental health community is working together to raise awareness about the emotional and mental health impact of such disasters – on individuals, families and communities.

On Friday, Dec. 7, a concert vent to benefit victims of Hurricane Sandy is being held from 7 to 10 p.m. at the H.O.O.D. (House of Original Dreams), 530 E. Union St., West Chester.All proceeds from the donations collected prior to the event, as well as ticket sales taken at the door and auction items, will be donated directly to the American Red Cross of Southeastern Pennsylvania. So far, the organizers of the event have raised almost $1,500 for the cause and expect to raise much more the night of the event.

“It’s important that we repair the damage that disasters like Sandy can wreak upon, not just on buildings, but on a person’s emotional and mental state as well,” said Barbyose Sanders, volunteer specialist at the American Red Cross Southeastern Pennsylvania Chapter.“Our work at the Red Cross is so vital in helping people to thrive after such events, because we understand that when a disaster hits, it disrupts everyday routines, social networks, accessibility to healthcare and the state of a communities’ mental health.”

This type of disaster, unfortunately, has become more commonplace in recent years, and the effect is far-reaching. When Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans in 2005, Natalie Cali was one of the residents who, after two days of waiting, had to be rescued from the roof of her home. Eventually she was relocated to Chester County. Now a peer support therapist at Salisbury Behavioral Health Inc., and a member of Chester County’s Mental Health Advisory Board, she says she survived the ordeal and has dealt with the lasting effects of the trauma by using tools she learned in a specialized training. On Friday, Cali will speak about this at the concert event to benefit victims of Hurricane Sandy.

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Two local bands, The Nicole Zell Band and The Pretty Dittys, as well as other performers, are donating their time to play at the concert. Local mental health organizations and the Chester County Department of Mental Health /Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities staff have made or pledged donations, and several local businesses have donated items for a silent auction to raise additional funds that night.

A collaborative effort by several local organizations, this benefit is produced by Stages, (formerly Creative Expressions) an arts initiative providing creative enrichment for wellness and recovery, funded through the Chester County Department of Human Services. The benefit concert is open to the community; a $5 donation is suggested at the door. For more information, contact me at tracy.behringer@gmail.com.

Tracy Behringer is community liaison for mental health in Chester County.